[MoMo]

Did you guess the originals ?


Iconic images in Lego - the originals


"Vietcong Captain", Tet Offensive, Eddie Adams

"Tiananmen Square", 1989, Jeff Widener


Posted by Times Online Newsdesk on April 03, 2008 at 01:47 PM

[MoMo]

What the Brits think of the new coins, and the ditching of Britannia :

There goes another part of British identity consigned to the dustbin of history, for no reason, just another step towards the gradual loss of British identity. Although, the designs that have been created, by the designer are quite good.
Chris'., Tamworth, Staffordshire.
35 grand for this innovative design.
400 grand for the Olympic symbol.
Is it too late to ask Mr Dent to give us a proper logo for 2012?
GJB, Slough, Berkshire
You miserable, negative moaning gits. At least they're worth something, unlike Zimbabwean cash. Harrumph!
David, Crawshawbooth, Lancashire

I read design blogs all day long and they are all talking about these coins. They are so awesome that I cant wait to order my proof set and frame it for enjoyment here in Texas!
Matt F, Dallas, TX
I like them, they are interesting the designer should feel very proud of his creat
alison, ashford,
It seems mildly ironic that the person who made the designs is from Bangor and yet the new coins hold no reference to Wales whatsoever - it's a shame because this seems to imply that Wales has no part in the United Kingdom.
Meg, Pembs,
Kudos to the Royal Mint and to the UK for daring to choose the most elegant, beautiful, distinctly modern yet noble coin design I've ever seen. I'm looking forward to being able to use them. Anyone looking for a good reason for not adopting the EURO, here you are!
George, Fribourg, Switzerland
I think they are rather nice. Pity the £2 coin is not changing, that could have been the place to include a reference to Wales.
Clive, Surbiton,
Stephen is right. Wales never was a separate kingdom, nor even a united principality. Again, I would have thought that space could have been found for a wee dragon!
Martyn Davies, Arzal, France
It looks pretty cool to me Very clever way of reinforcing heritage. I hope they are still in circulation in 40 years time (as opposed to the Euro).
Larry, Stratford,
I think they are very modern, they represent the most innovative country in the world to me. good job and the fact that a 26 year-old person is their designer is just great. congrats.
Zita, B,
Wales is not represented on the Union Flag and now not on the new coins. Where do we stand in this modern day concept of the United Kingdom?
We are a Principality, so why doesn't the Prince of Wales use his influence, or is that another meaningless title?
Mike Cole, Hayling Island, HANTS
I think the new coins look great. They are moving in line with the changes in our country, and are sill holding on to our heritage. I don't think that getting rid of Britannia is a bad thing - she wasn't even British anyway!!
Joe, London,
Just another example of the purging of all things "British" in this country what with the removal of Brittannia. How long before we lose our currency for the dreaded euro?
Martin, Leeds,
I can't believe that the Royal Mint can commission new designs without Wales being represented. I am shocked. It's a disgrace.
David Batchelor, Sleaford, Lincolnshire
Rachel shouldn't balk at £35k. For the designs of all our currency, it's actually a pitiful amount. And if we get 40 years' use out of these, it's a small price to pay for some new designs.
Tony, London, UK
Like some of your other contributors I thought the designs were an April 1 joke at first. I don't like the way that each coin, apart from the one pound, has a fragment of a design. Having heard that new designs were on their way to symbolise 21st century Britain all I can says is they are depicting a mess.
David Lee, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex
There is also no representation for Wales in the Royal Arms, as Wales was never a separate kingdom. That said,
maybe Matthew Dent wasn't only chosen for excellent design but also for his welsh credentials...

On the matter of £35,000 fee. I think this is very good value - especially when the logo for London 2012 cost £400k.
Stephen, Cambridge,
Personaly, i think that the new coin arangment is a good idea.

But i ask what will happen to the £2 coin?
charlie, ipswich, england
They'll be good for the Tate, but that's about all. Do they think people will keep them arranged neatly in shield shapes? Individually, they just look like the stamping press slipped.
Gordon Brown said they would represent modern Britain and he's right; they're a complete mess.
Andrew, Swindon, UK
I don't really care what's on the coins except - numbers please

david Kay, Vevey, Switzerland
I think these designs look fine. Not a design triumph, but I think people just enjoy criticising things.

The 2012 olympics logo though... now THAT was hideous.

Anyway, when was the last time you actually thought about the design of the coins in your pocket?
Diana, London,
Standard British reaction - it's new and unfamiliar, therefore I hate it. Predictable, if a little depressing. Anyone with any sense knows that within a month we will be used to these coins and won't even notice them any more. Sad for the designer, but there it is.
Jenny Latimer, Dundee,
Now I'll try to think of something positive to say about the coins.............mmmm'mmmmmmmm

Well maybe if one tries really hard...mmmmm'mmmmmm

Nothing positive to say about the coins and nothing good to say about the coins? Right.

What is left? Perhaps allow Big Ben to go electric and the Tower Bridge could be replaced with a modern structure?

Baaah humbug.

Rule Britannia indeed.
Frank Madigan, Capreol, Canada
We can only hope that this truly wretched idea is another nail in the coffin Nulab is building for itself.
In a way it seems to represent the the disjointed shambles that the Gordon Brown government has become. Perhaps they think such a ghastly idea will make us want to adopt the Euro.
Is it already too late to veto this latest lefty scheme to make Britain a laughing stock?
John W Meadows, Los Altos Hills, California
Rubbish - especially the ten an two pence!
Peter, Shropshire, UK
England is represented Ireland is represented and so is Scotland, but Wales are not! Why we had our own pound coin before! How can the royal mint forget Wales considering they have an office there.
Catrin , London ,
Could have done better myself, especially for £35,000.00. What about the £2.00 coin; couldn't his graphic design skills stretch to that?
S.R. Fenn, Barnet, Great Britain
The new designs are the result of one person’s determined effort to abandon almost all links with coin design.

[Shawn 507]

Mo are things really that slow? Money changes and while Legos are fun, some things should just not be done with childrens toys.

[MoMo]

Shawn 507

Re: Nice Things to Talk About

---

Mo are things really that slow? Money changes and while Legos are fun, some things should just not be done with childrens toys.

I guess that I've been used to seeing Britannia on our pennies ( pre-decimal ) and 50p coins ( post-decimals ) and change bugs me. The abuse of Lego bugs me too, but it's an interesting idea. Dollies became GI Joes and Action Men, so I suppose anything might happen !

[Shawn 507]

I hear ya, its great that todays decision makers feel guilted into righting the wrongs of the past by ruining traditions.

[MoMo]

I'm off to Budapest next week, so I'll see if I can find any diecast treasures.

The last time that I was there was when it was all gloom and doom and RED.

Anyone been there lately? Found anything of note ?

MoMo

[Cardinal]

Originally Posted by MoMo

I'm off to Budapest next week, so I'll see if I can find any diecast treasures.

The last time that I was there was when it was all gloom and doom and RED.

Anyone been there lately? Found anything of note ?

MoMo

MoMo, you must definitely visit 'Castle Hill', the location of the Mathias Kirche (Church where the Austrian Emperors were crowned). This 'hill/fortification' has apparently seen plenty of conflict over the ages and was badly damaged during WWII (but reconstructed with original material). When you walk around the ramparts, particularly on the 'far side', away from the Mathias Kirche, it actually feels quite eerie - to be honest, I think that many bloody battles occurred at this particular location as you can almost sense the souls of those who departed there ... .

[MoMo]

Thanks Cardinal, I'll be there next week. I'll try to find that location and enjoy the atmosphere. I usually get on well with ghosts, so I should be ok.

Cheers,

MoMo

[MoMo]

Just watching a show on Discovery Knowledge about the efforts of a diving team from the show " Wreck Detectives " trying to locate and raise one of the R R Pegasus engines from a MARK 1 Sunderland. This makes the submerged Sunderland the earliest Sunderland known to exist. The fact that it has not got Pratt and Whitney engines makes this a unique item, but the indications are that the Sunderland is T9044 and this makes it more exciting.

The team is attempting to raise one of the engines in order to restore it for display in the local museum.

The engines weigh 1.5 tons each and the team have to remove mud and silt from them as well as avoiding damage to the wing. The hope is that the whole aircraft will be raised and restored to display condition.

T9044 sank at her moorings during a storm, so went down intact. Her registration number is etched onto the crank case of each engine.

Good luck Guys !

[MoMo]

......Oh yes, and another thing, 100 flights out of Heathrow were cancelled today because of three inches of snow in London. Boy, do they have problems !

:smilie_aengstl1 ::smilie_aengstl 1:

Spring, what Spring ?